Folding chairs

ABSTRACT

An improved folding chair comprises two side frames each having a front leg, a rear leg, and a linkage bar bridged the front leg and the rear leg, and a first loading bracket and a second loading bracket. The linkage bars are coupled respectively with a tubular rod which is turnable on the linkage bar. The tubular rods respectively attach to a first and a second toggle bar which are pivotally engaged on a toggle joint. The first and the second loading bracket have respectively a first side bar and a second side bar which are pivotally engaged with the first and the second toggle bar in a cross and staggered manner. The first and the second side bar have respectively one end engaged with each other on another toggle joint, and connect respectively a first loading bar and a second loading bar to form a seating zone. The two side frames may be moved towards each other by an external force such that the two tubular rods are turned on the two linkage bars, and drive the first and the second toggle bar and the first and second loading bracket toward each other about the toggle joints which function as fulcrums to juxtapose and fold the chair in a compact size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to improved folding chairs andparticularly a folding chair that has toggle joints to engage variouselements and to function as fulcrums to allow the elements foldingclosely with one another thereby to fold the chair in a compact size.

[0002] Outdoor leisured and recreational activities are very popularthese days. As many people live and work in highly competitiveenvironments, and have accumulated a lot of tension and stress, toparticipate some outdoor activities such as field trips, camping, orBar-B-Q help people to release the tension and stress, and can improvequality of life. It often happens that some recreational sites do nothave all the facilities required. In order to better enjoy the outdooractivities, people have to carry some outdoor articles and goods withthem, especially tables and chairs. Hence to shrink the size of thetables and chairs has become an important issue to the furnitureproducers.

[0003] Folding chairs are widely used nowadays, such as in outdoortrips, school activities, provisional meetings, etc. In the earlierdays, folding chairs are mostly made of woods. As wooden chairs areheavy, they are rarely used these days.

[0004] In order to remedy the shortcomings of the folding chairs in thepast, contemporary folding chairs generally are adopted metal chairframes made of steel tubes, aluminum tubes or steel rods. They are bentto desired shapes, then are coupled and stitched with seat pads andbackrests made of canvas or fabrics. They are generally light weight andportable, and are easy to fold to small sizes for carrying. Hence theyare well accepted on the market.

[0005] Whereas, aforesaid folding chairs mostly have the seat padpivotally engaged to the backrest. After using for a period of time, theseat pad tends to sag and cause deformation on the pivotal section. As aresult, the pivotal section could not function properly, and makefolding or extending of the chair difficult. It becomes an annoyingproblem to users.

[0006] Moreover, the seat pad and backrest usually are fixedly stitchedto the chair frame. Once assembled, they are not possible to remove orseparate from the chair frame. Hence when using for a period of time,the seat pad and backrest could become smeared or frayed. As the seatpad and backrest cannot be removed for washing and cleaning orreplacement, the whole set of folding chair has to throw away. It is acostly waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoingdisadvantages. The invention aims to provide an improved folding chairthat has toggle joints to engage various elements and to function asfulcrums to allow the elements folding closely with one another forfolding the chair in a compact size.

[0008] The folding chair of the invention consists of two side frameseach has a front leg and a rear leg bridged by a linkage bar, and afirst and a second loading bracket located between the side frames. Thelinkage bar is coupled with a turnable tubular rod. The tubular rods attwo sides attach respectively to a first and a second toggle bar. Thefirst and the second loading bracket include respectively a first and asecond side bar which are pivotally engaged with the first and secondtoggle bars, and have one end engaged on a toggle joint. The first andsecond side bar have respectively a first and second loading bars on theupper side to form a seating zone. When applying force on the sideframes in sideward directions, the two tubular rods will turn about thelinkage bars and drive the first and second toggle bar, and the firstand second loading bracket folding towards each other about the togglejoints so that the chair may be folded in a compact size.

[0009] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the invention.

[0012]FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are schematic views of the invention underfolding.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the folding chair 1 of thepresent invention consists of two side frames 11, and a first loadingbracket 12 and a second loading bracket 13. Each side frame 11 has afront leg 111, a rear leg 112, and a linkage bar 114 bridged the frontand rear leg 111 and 112. The front leg 111 further is bent and extendedto the rear leg 112 to form an armrest 113. The two linkage bars 114 arecoupled respectively with a tubular rod 116, 116′ which has an interiordiameter greater than the exterior diameter of the linkage bar 114. Theopposing inner sides of the front leg 111 and rear leg 112 haverespectively a coupling sleeve 115 mounted thereon to engage with twoends of the linkage bar 114. The coupling sleeve 115 has an outsidediameter greater than the diameter of the linkage bar. Hence the tubularrods 116, 116′ are turnable on the linkage bars 114. The tubular rods116, 116′ further engage respectively with a first toggle bar 119 and asecond toggle bar 119′ which have another end engaged with each other ona toggle joint. The first and second loading bracket 12 and 13 haverespectively a first and a second side bar 121, 131 which are pivotallyengaged with the first and second toggle bar 119, 119′ in a cross andstaggered manner at a middle section thereof, and have respectively oneend engaged with each other on another toggle joint. The first andsecond side bar 121, 131 further connect respectively with a first andsecond loading bar 122, 132 at the one end thereof to form a seatingzone. There is a latch lever 123 located between the loading brackets12, 13 and the front and rear leg 111, 112. The latch lever 123 has alatch notch 1231. The first and second loading bracket 12, 13 haverespectively a safety latch strut 124 engageable with the latch lever123. When the folding chair 1 is extended for use, the latch lever 123may be engaged with the safety latch strut 124 to make the chair firmand steady without collapsing inadvertently to enhance users' safety. Aseat pad 117 may be mounted on the seating zone formed by the first andsecond loading bars 122, 132. A backrest pad 118 may be coupled to theupper section of the rear leg 112. Thus complete the construction of thefolding chair 1. Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the toggle joints ofthe first and second toggle bar 119, 119′, and the first and second sidebar 121, 131 may be covered by a first and second guarding cap 2, 3 forreducing the friction and noise of the toggle joints. This also helps toreduce the wearing of the folding elements. When to fold the chair,applying force on the side frames 11 to turn the tubular rods 116, 116′on the linkage bars 114. Disengage the latch lever 123 from the safetylatch strut 124. When the tubular rods 116, 116′ turn, the toggle bars119, 119′ will be driven to move upwards at the toggle joint for aselected displacement. The pivotal axes between the first and secondtoggle bar 119, 119′ and the first and second side bar 121, 131 of thefirst and second loading bracket 12, 13 will function as fulcrums,therefore the toggle joint of the first and second side bars 121, 131will be moved downwards while the first and second loading bars 122, 132will be moved upwards. As shown in FIG. 3D, when the chair is fullyfolded, the first and second loading bracket 12, 13 and the first andsecond toggle bar 119, 119′ will be housed in the space bordering by thearmrest 113 and linkage bars 114 of the side frames 11. And the sideframes 11 will be juxtaposed with each other to allow the chair 1folding in a compact size.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved folding chair, comprising: two sideframes each having a front leg, a rear leg, and a linkage bar bridgedthe front leg and the rear leg, the linkage bars being coupledrespectively with a tubular rod which is turnable on the linkage bar,the tubular rod being respectively attached to a first and a secondtoggle bar which are pivotally engaged on a toggle joint; and a firstloading bracket and a second loading bracket having respectively a firstside bar and a second side bar which are pivotally engaged with thefirst and the second toggle bar in a cross and staggered manner, andhave respectively one end engaged with each other on another togglejoint, the first and the second side bar connecting respectively a firstloading bar and a second loading bar to form a seating zone; wherein thetwo side frames are movable to juxtapose with each other under anexternal force such that the two tubular rods are turned on the twolinkage bars, and the first and the second toggle bar and the firstloading bracket and the second loading bracket are moved toward eachother about the toggle joints which function as fulcrums to juxtaposeand fold the chair.
 2. The improved folding chair of claim 1 furtherhaving a latch lever located between the first and the second loadingbracket and the front leg and the rear leg, the latch lever having alatch notch, the first and the second loading bracket having a safetylatch strut for engaging with the latch lever when the folding chair isextended.
 3. The improved folding chair of claim 1, wherein the togglejoint of the first and the second toggle bar is covered by a guardingcap for reducing friction and noise.
 4. The improved folding chair ofclaim 1, wherein the toggle joint of the first and the second side baris covered by a guarding cap for reducing friction and noise.
 5. Theimproved folding chair of claim 1, wherein the front leg and the rearleg have respectively a coupling sleeve mounted to an opposing innerside thereof to engage with two ends of the linkage bar, the couplingsleeve having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of thelinkage bar, the tubular rods having an interior diameter grater thanthe linkage bar to allow the tubular rods turning on the linkage bar.